endonuclease

[ en-doh-noo-klee-eys, -eyz, -nyoo- ]
/ ˌɛn doʊˈnu kliˌeɪs, -ˌeɪz, -ˈnyu- /

noun Biochemistry.

any of a group of enzymes that degrade DNA or RNA molecules by breaking linkages within the polynucleotide chains.

Origin of endonuclease

First recorded in 1960–65; endo- + nuclease

Words nearby endonuclease

endomyocarditis, endomyometritis, endomysium, endoneuritis, endoneurium, endonuclease, endoparasite, endopeptidase, endopericarditis, endoperidium, endoperimyocarditis

British Dictionary definitions for endonuclease

endonuclease
/ (ˌɛndəʊˈnjuːklɪˌeɪz) /

noun

an enzyme that is responsible for scission of a nucleic acid chain, the action of which is not confined to the terminal nucleotide Compare exonuclease

Medical definitions for endonuclease

endonuclease
[ ĕn′dō-nōō′klē-ās′, -āz′ ]

n.

Any of a group of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bonds between nucleic acids in a DNA molecule or RNA sequence.